I am a worship leader. It took me some time to come to that reality, that this is one of my gifts and abilities. In the early days of leading worship I had a friend that was kind and patient enough to sing with me (she was willing to worship with me anywhere) and we would practice at her house. Her mom would sit, listen, and lovingly give notes. Then her mom would tell me that I was a worship leader and that I have a gift, and I would say that that is not my calling and that I wanted a different ministry. It took me awhile to accept that God was using me in that capacity even if I thought He could have done a better job of finding someone to lead His people into His Throne room of grace. Fifteen years later, I have begun to see that worship is more than me singing or playing a guitar. It is a lifestyle that comes out of accepting His free, no strings attached, gift of Salvation.
Now I have to say that I firmly believe that we can never earn God's Salvation. We can never do anything to make Him want to give it to us any more or any less...it is a gift. Free and clear...but it is our response to that gift that I have been looking at differently as of late. We are not saved by our works but redeemed for good works. My goal in sharing this is not to condemn or guilt you into anything but rather as the writer of Hebrews says "to spur you towards love and good deeds".
Jesus, Paul the Apostle and God through the Old Testament Prophets talks about "works" and "good deeds" and I can see where people can get the idea that we can have a part in earning our seat on the bus to Heaven. However, a life that is only based on the faith side of accepting the free gift that God has for us...misses out on the lifestyle that God wants us to enter into. We have been created for this lifestyle...we have been designed to worship.
The life of the worshiper is marked by acts of kindness and generosity..."acts of Worship". God makes it clear what pleases Him...acts and deeds and works that are done to and for those that can't do for themselves. In some cases they way be small and insignificant to you and I, but Jesus tells us that we did them to Him...we ministered to Him. Giving back and helping others is worship to Him.
Now it goes without saying, but I have to say it: We should be responding in this manner out of love. We are called to love God and our Neighbor, and we have great reason to after all He has done for us. However, it is possible to do these acts and good deeds without love. Acts and good deeds that are void of love, are not and will never be "acts of Worship"...they will be empty.
Here are some suggestions of worship that isn't signing but equally beautiful to Him. Remember that we where created by a God that is creative...let us go and be creative in our worship to Him.
- Standing up to an injustice and being a voice for someone that doesn't have one...Worship
- Taking a homemade dinner or giving a restaurant gift card to a homeless person...Worship
- Sharing our homes and our families with a child in the Foster Care system...Worship
- Caring for the widow, the elderly and the disabled...Worship
May we be a saved people that are known for how and who we worship.
Now I have to say that I firmly believe that we can never earn God's Salvation. We can never do anything to make Him want to give it to us any more or any less...it is a gift. Free and clear...but it is our response to that gift that I have been looking at differently as of late. We are not saved by our works but redeemed for good works. My goal in sharing this is not to condemn or guilt you into anything but rather as the writer of Hebrews says "to spur you towards love and good deeds".
Jesus, Paul the Apostle and God through the Old Testament Prophets talks about "works" and "good deeds" and I can see where people can get the idea that we can have a part in earning our seat on the bus to Heaven. However, a life that is only based on the faith side of accepting the free gift that God has for us...misses out on the lifestyle that God wants us to enter into. We have been created for this lifestyle...we have been designed to worship.
The life of the worshiper is marked by acts of kindness and generosity..."acts of Worship". God makes it clear what pleases Him...acts and deeds and works that are done to and for those that can't do for themselves. In some cases they way be small and insignificant to you and I, but Jesus tells us that we did them to Him...we ministered to Him. Giving back and helping others is worship to Him.
Now it goes without saying, but I have to say it: We should be responding in this manner out of love. We are called to love God and our Neighbor, and we have great reason to after all He has done for us. However, it is possible to do these acts and good deeds without love. Acts and good deeds that are void of love, are not and will never be "acts of Worship"...they will be empty.
Here are some suggestions of worship that isn't signing but equally beautiful to Him. Remember that we where created by a God that is creative...let us go and be creative in our worship to Him.
- Standing up to an injustice and being a voice for someone that doesn't have one...Worship
- Taking a homemade dinner or giving a restaurant gift card to a homeless person...Worship
- Sharing our homes and our families with a child in the Foster Care system...Worship
- Caring for the widow, the elderly and the disabled...Worship
May we be a saved people that are known for how and who we worship.
1 comment :
So true. Thanks for sharing your insights, Tim. It's easy to think that our religious efforts are the ladder we must climb to God, rather than being thankful, responses of love and worship from the hearts of people who have been loved in spite of our brokenness and rebelliousness. God, help me continue to love those around me out of the overflow of the love and grace you've showered upon me, and may my actions be a sweet song of worship in your ears.
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